As mentioned in the letter, “construction can be disruptive” and the school community can “expect a certain amount of dust, noise, and other inconveniences.” These planned renovations will almost certainly have a negative effect on students' education. The various auditory, visual, and environmental distractions will impede students’ ability to concentrate on their studies. It is the utmost responsibility of the Peel District School Board to ensure that all students have access to a safe, clean, and disturbance-free learning environment.

Furthermore, the asbestos abatement procedures that are planned will pose significant health risks. According to the World Health Organization, all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. In addition, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has indicated that there is no safe form of asbestos, nor is there a threshold level of exposure that is risk-free. Growing teens should not be exposed to these hazardous materials on a daily basis. The risk is very real, and this is a risk that no parent would want to take.

Although the school has attempted to assure parents that this construction project will not impact the health of students, the validity of these pledges is unclear. Given that the renovation work will affect a large portion of the school, there is a very significant chance that students will be exposed to the hazardous material. For example, the front of the school, near the main entrance, is the site of a new elevator. Hundreds of students pass by this corridor every day, and attempts to completely isolate this area may not be successful. Moreover, the school’s ventilation system will likely carry airborne particles from place to place, scattering hazardous materials around the school. An enormous amount of hazardous dust and debris is expected as the current hallway tiling is replaced. While professionals with full protection will be handling the procedures, students will be left fully vulnerable to the toxic effects of asbestos and other airborne particles, with no personal defenses whatsoever.

Sign this petition to request the Peel District School Board to halt plans for construction work at The Woodlands School until after the conclusion of the 2014-2015 school year, when students will not be in class. Student safety and education quality must be the top priorities at the Peel District School Board, and allowing such a project to be executed in this timeframe would be a clear deviation from these values.

Simply leave the school's address (3225 Erindale Station Rd., Mississauga, ON L5C 1Y5) if you do not wish to leave your own address. Thank you for supporting this petition.

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Parents and Students of The Woodlands School needs your help with “Peel District School Board: Halt plans for major construction work at The Woodlands School”. Join Parents and Students of The Woodlands School and 103 supporters today.